Follow us on:

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube

Domestic

Third Gifts of State Exhibition |17 October 2019

Third Gifts of State Exhibition

Exquisite collection of over 100 gifts on display

 

A collection of over 100 gifts presented to President Danny Faure over the past year are on display for the public in the Gifts of State Exhibition at the National History Museum.

The one-month exhibition officially opened yesterday afternoon in a brief ceremony attended by President Danny Faure, dignitaries and high-ranking officials before they were invited to feast their eyes on the exquisite collection comprising ornaments, intricately carved sculptures, paintworks among other artefacts, all bearing some value, although not necessarily monetary.

The exhibition, initiated by President Faure three years ago, serves to mark the third anniversary of the inauguration of President Danny Faure as President of the Republic of Seychelles.

“One of the original concepts of this annual exhibition was to bring more transparency as to what protocol gifts are received by the head of State on behalf of the people of Seychelles.  The exhibition also honours and expresses our appreciation to the bearers of those gifts, to celebrate together the ties of friendship and cooperation between us,” said Mohammed Afif, the secretary of state for Cabinet Affairs.

Mr Afif said that lack of transparency results in weak governance but that he is proud that President Faure has taken a stance on transparency.

Besides gifts received by President Faure during state visits, gifts from local counterparts are also on display. These include donations from Seychellois-owned companies, gifts the President has received from school students as well as from other organisations.

Thirteen-year-old Rafael Amesbury had a chance to visit the exhibition yesterday and described it as interesting.

“It is really interesting to see all the gifts the President has been given over the past year. And they are all very different and some intriguing, but I think it is a good initiative to allow the public to see them,” he noted.

Guests who had a chance to view the collection yesterday all seemed to concur that the pieces on display were dazzling, to say the least.

Curator of the exhibition, Emmanuel D’Offay, noted that President Faure is the first to display his gifts for the people of Seychelles to view.

“This is a form of pride for the people to come and view the exhibition because after all, those gifts do not belong to the president but to the people of Seychelles and that is why they are being offered the chance to see it,” Mr D’Offay said.

The collections from the two previous years are housed in other parts of the National History Museum. He also revealed that there is a possibility that all the exhibits from the three years will be on display for the 250th anniversary of the first settlement in Seychelles.

The National History Museum will host the Gifts of State exhibition until November 16. The museum is open from 9am to 5pm on weekdays and from 9am to 1pm on Saturdays.

The accompanying photographs show guests viewing the exhibition yesterday.

More news